Professional mom seeking clarity, balance and a well deserved glass of wine.

Lose the Tude and Get Back to Happy

I confess…sometimes I can diligently and mindfully “self-help” myself all day long and my state of happiness goes to hell in a hand-basket by the time I walk through the door at night. WTH

I can wake up in the morning, workout, meditate, throw in a load of laundry for later, drop the petite ya-ya off at school without meltdown or incident, and have a phenomenal day at work. And after all that zenful goodness, it all goes to shit in a text. Ok, more like a mad string of texts from one or both of my kids:

…when will you be home?…?????? (if I don’t answer fast enough)…what’s for dinner? Ew, I don’t like that!…remember, I need that super rare artifact that we’ll never be able to find on Amazon prime in time for Thursdays presentation at school?…is my gymnastics leotard clean?…remember you said you’d help me with my speech?…are you almost home?…????????

You get the picture. I know they are precious children and I’m grateful to have them. Truly!

I’ve talked about it with them and explained that when I’m at work, I’m concentrating and working hard so I don’t have to bring my work home. Unless you’re bleeding or need something more serious than a laundry question answered, don’t call or text me when I’ve got my work hat on.

My brain spins into a whirling dervish and the pity-me loop starts rolling. Why don’t they respect my time? Why can’t they look and see if their laundry is clean? Why can’t they call and ask me how my day is and if I’m doing ok? And, what I’d like for dinner and can they start fixing it? Why can’t I do anything right for them? I try so damned hard.

Now, this is not a pity me post, to be certain!

I have found a remedy for this problem, that I’ve tested and want to share. It’s a free, immediate, healthy attitude adjustment and it’s even “wine-free!” I know, you’re shocked!

WALK IT OFF AND LOSE THE TUDE

I’ve learned that if I throw on my tennis shoes and take a brisk ten-minute walk (or seventy, depending on the mood) I can “lose the‘tude and get back to happy!” (now, that’s a tweetable). And the only rule is NO THINKING! Gotta turn the mind off and just walk and breathe. Listen to nature or music, but zero thinking. Plenty of time for that later.

By the time you get back, the loop is on pause, the mind is right and you may even be able to consider three things you’re grateful for as you enter the house. The house, for one. Your beautiful healthy kids. Your own health. The walk. I could go on and on.

It doesn’t have to be a thick, Chicago slice of happy; a thin, New York slice will do!